Cpl Joeseph C Schanzenbach

  General Notes:

Lost a lung in WWI. Pinned under a truck when the mustard gas attack occured. Could not reach his gas mask. Never healthy after that.
Joe Schanzenbach Enlisted in Army during WWI. During his tour of duty, his father Eugene in Poteau Ok, had the family name changed to Johnson. After WWI, his brother Tony who also had been in the army, had his name legally changed to Johnson, but Joe did not. He died Joe Schanzenbach.

While in France, during an attack, a truck was turned over pining him under. He should have been wearing his gas mask but wasn't. A Frenchman who was with him ran away, even while Joe was asking him to come back and hand him his gas mask. Joe was gassed, and nearly died. He lost one lung, and spent 14 years under the medical care of the VA. He spent much time at the VA hospital in Sulphur, Ok. The side of his chest was collapsed, and his suite coats were padded to make up the difference. His Brother, Bill said Joe hated Frenchmen till the day he died.

In 1950, after the funeral for his step Mother, Clara, when he came to visit Lorene and Bill in Tulsa, Lorene would serve him a cup of coffee. After he had gone, Lorene picked up the cup and saucer to find he had left a quarter tip.

When Joe died, he had, a wife of 4 yrs, two surviving full brothers (Alfonso and Nick), two half brothers (Bill and Ben). He left all his money to Alfonso, who unknown to him was in a hospital, and would live only a few months longer. Joe was considered by his surviving brothers Nick, Bill, and Ben to have been unfair to his father, step mother, wife and brothers.
Head Stone at Calvary in Shawnee, OK read "Joseph C Schanzenbach Cpl. US Army" 1891 1959"

Joe got Married in Amarillo TX, where he lived, 4 yr. 3 mo. before he died. I have no information about his wife.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Wounded, 1918, France.

Joeseph married Iva Unknown in 1952 in Pampa, TX.